Would you like to see more plays, musical performances, and art classes in the center of Hillsborough to serve northern Orange County?
There is no auditorium in northern Orange County large enough and affordable enough to host these types of events. To meet this need, organizations and individuals from across Orange County have banded together to form the Orange County Cultural Center (OCCC).
Within recent weeks, Orange County Commissioners have begun searching for a use for the second floor of “building A” of the Whitted Building, which used to house the main branch of the county’s library. Prior to that, the building was Hillsborough High School.
The school had an auditorium on the main floor, which was used to hold the book stacks during the library years, and has been preserved as an open space. The OCCC would like to rent the open space from the county and restore its use as an auditorium. Click on the picture below to get a closer look at the open space of the Whitted building:
The Town of Hillsborough fully supports the drive to establish a cultural center to serve northern Orange County in the heart of Hillsborough. In fact, within the past two weeks, the Hillsborough Tourism Board has offered a $10,000 matching grant to the OCCC to help fund the effort if it manages to raise another $10,000.
But, there is a time limit! The grant is only offered for a 90-day period, so, the OCCC has only until January 3 to raise the matching funds!
The OCCC has already raised $3200. Can you help get the cultural center get established by pledging your support? The OCCC will wait to cash your check until the $10,000 has been raised. Make your check out to the Hillsborough Arts Council (the OCCC’s fiscal agent until they get incorporated), and mail to:
Orange County Cultural Center c/o Hillsborough Arts Council P.O. Box 625 Hillsborough, NC 27278 If you want to make a donation immediately, you can pay online here.We’ll have a table at the Handmade Parade. Allan Gurganus will be at the end of the parade to help us kick off our campaign.
Please join our Facebook page and our newsletter list to stay in involved.
This sounds like an awesome opportunity. I urge you to consult with a real theater architect before you start work on the space. A person who knows the technical needs of theater performance can consult with your designers and save money and also years of headaches down the line. If you want a multi-use space that can work for theater, please, please get an expert on your planning team!